Zak Crawley Unaware of Captain Stokes' Controversial 'Weak Men' Comments

The English opener Crawley has indicated he was not familiar with comments from skipper Ben Stokes about the dressing room as no place for "those lacking fortitude".

Stokes made this message in several interviews following England's loss in the second Ashes series versus Australia previously.

Ahead of the Adelaide Test, where England now face a series loss with a match to spare, the captain noted he had allowed his message to "circulate freely" among the playing group.

"I have completed all the talking over the past two days that I needed to have done," remarked Stokes.

But, after Crawley made 85 on the penultimate day in the third Test, he commented: "I didn't see that."

"I didn't see and wasn't really looking out for it. Our approach is to take anything stated in the media with a pinch of salt," he added.

Frank Discussions and Consistent Messaging

Stokes issued his "fragile individuals" observation after his side were beaten in the second Test to go 2-0 down.

The team subsequently went on a break to Noosa between the second and the upcoming matches.

Prior to this match, Stokes revealed his players had held "raw" conversations and he had urged them to "display some fight" in their battle to remain in contention in the Ashes battle.

Yet, the Kent batsman asserted the messaging from Stokes and coach McCullum had stayed in line with their previous tenure in charge.

"The atmosphere has been extremely upbeat, unchanged," said Crawley. "The focus is just trying to be optimistic, play our way, with great liberty. We believed we were capable of an extraordinary feat entering this game."

Australia On the Verge of Rapid Series Victory

Crawley's wicket on day four came during a crucial triple-strike by Australia off-spinner Lyon.

The spinner's three wickets in 20 deliveries – he also bowled Brook and Stokes himself – meant the chasing side six down for 207 in pursuit of a notional total of 435 runs.

Consequently, the home team need four wickets on the final day to move to an unassailable 3-0 lead with three matches played.

A loss would prolong the English team's winless run in Australia to 18 consecutive matches and condemn them to a fourth successive overseas Ashes series loss.

The current battle will be completed in only 11 days of play – with England fell the initial matches in rapid time each.

The last time 1921, when Australia completed a series win in the UK in eight days, has the outcome of the Ashes urn been determined so quickly. The hosts have also triumphed in 11 days on two other instances in the 21st century.

"This is disheartening," admitted Crawley. "We came here to win the Ashes and now we are staring down the barrel at this point."

"There remains significant pride at stake and we will definitely view it like that," Crawley added.

"It's been difficult. They're a formidable team. It was inevitably hard coming here to face them. They were the favourites coming in to it they've proven why."

Ollie Pope's Place In Question

While the opener's performance in Adelaide likely secures doubts about his immediate place in the England team, Ollie Pope appears under immense pressure for his position in the Melbourne Test on Boxing Day.

The Surrey batsman was out for 17 in the team's second knock on Saturday, extending his poor record against the old enemy.

Across 16 Ashes innings, Pope has never made a half-century and averages just 17.62.

Only one other England player since 1900 – Dennis Amiss – has featured an equal number of innings in the top order in Ashes Tests and returned a poorer average.

However, Crawley said any notion Pope is under the microscope originates with "you guys" – referring to the journalists – "and not within the team."

"We all know how good of a player he is," said Crawley. "Ollie has enjoyed a good year if I'm honest."

"He has played several excellent innings. It is noise externally. There is no discussion of that nature on Ollie in the camp," he finished.